AFCENT 'Check Six' team promotes multinational vigilance

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Airman at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing are briefed about the U.S. Air Forces Central Command "Check Six" program from the moment they arrive on station, but the ambitious 386 AEW Check Six team branched out to our northern neighbors.

The AFCENT Check Six program was developed to promote awareness, vigilance, and to combat complacency in light of the frequent green-on-blue attacks in Afghanistan.

"This was the first time we taught someone other than Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Armida Dicicco, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Check Six instructor. "It was pretty awesome to have another branch of service members from another service family come to our Check Six combatives."

Cpl. Ricardo Rampersad and Sgt. Beau Long from the Canadian Forces were the first non-airman to participate in the Check Six combatives at 'The Rock'.

"We don't really have a lot of this on our side of the military," said Cpl. Ricardo Rampersad "This is a new experience and a way to see how the Americans do things."

As for Sgt. Long, he came out to make friends and to learn some self-defense techniques.

"I came out to interact with our American partners here on the camp and to gain some skills that I may be able to use if I ever need them," said Sgt. Beau Long.

The two Canadian soldiers were so impressed with their training; they plan to promote their new found skills to all the service members at Camp Canada.

"I see the value in this and when I get back I'll run it up the chain," said Long.

While today's multinational training was a historic event for the 386 AEW Check Six team, Dicicco hopes the fight back mentality becomes second nature to our northern neighbors.

"A lot of people think we only concentrate on Air Force but that's not the case," she said. "A lot of those active violent situations in Afghanistan were our brethren so we want the Canadians to know that no one is immune to this."